Foam valve assembly



March 1961 D. D. MICHEL FOAM VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed June 4, 1958 ll Vlllyl/g/lll Ill a? INVENTOR.

FOAM VALVE ASSEMBLY David Daniel Michel, 39 S. La Salle St., Chicago, Ill.

Filed June 4, 1958, Ser. No. 739,738

9 Claims. (Cl. 222394) This invention relates to a valve assembly and more particularly to an improved valve for dispensing fluent materials from a pressurized container.

The valve assembly of this invention is particularly useful in connection with portable containers, common for dispensing such fluent materials as whipped cream, shaving cream, and lotions. The valve assembly is adapted to dispense such materials in a richly foamed condition. It will be understood, however, that this invention is not limited to any specific type of container or to any particular fluent material.

Heretofore many of the valves which have been used for dispensing fluent materials from portable pressurized containers have either employed a considerable number of parts or have required difiicult and expensive assembly techniques. In most instances the valve and container are not re-used after the fluent materials have been exhausted. To enable the valve to be thus disposable with the container it is most desirable from the standpoint of economy that the manufacturing costs of the valve parts be minimized and the valve assembly techniques simplified without detracting from the dispensing and sealing qualities of the valve.

It is one object of this invention to provide a simplified and improved valve which will permit the dispensing of fluent materials from an associated container.

. It is another object of this invention to provide an effective gas-sealing valve for use with a portable pressurized container, which valve may be conveniently actuated to dispense fluent materials from said container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reliable yet simplified and inexpensive valve which may be easily and conveniently actuated by radial pressure to dispense fluent materials from an associated container in a foamed or aerated condition.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a simplified valve assembly. having a minimum number of parts and which parts may be easily and inexpensively manufactured in large quantities.

It is still a further object of this invent-ion to provide a simplified two-piece valve for use with a pressurized container, which valve may be quickly and easily assembled.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a simplified inexpensive, easily assembled dispensing valve for use in conjunction with a portable pressurized container, which valve will facilitate the pressurizing of the container.

Other objects will be seen and a further understanding of the invent-ion may be gained by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a valve assembly is provided for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end. An apertured mounting cup is employed for mounting the valve assembly in the open end of the container, the peripheral United States Patent 2,975,944 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 portions at this cup sealingly engaging the container adjacent the open end.

The valve assembly includes an elongate, apertured adjutage or efllux tube which is sealingly disposed within the aperture of the mounting cup. The adjutage com prises a valve seat portion, a shoulder disposed within the aperture, a resilient tension-ing portion intermediate the valve seat and shoulder portions, and a decorators tip or nozzle portion. The tensioning portion of the adjutage is preferably longitudinally undulated and of substantially reduced uniform wall thickness as compared to the other portions of the adjutage.

Coacting and cooperating with the adjutage is a plug member. This plug member includes an obturator portion, a hook portion, and an intermediate elongate body portion; The hook and body portions of the plug member are disposed within the aperture of the adjutage and are of smaller transverse dimensions thereby defining a circumjacent passageway through the adjutage. The obturator portion of the plug member is disposed transversely with respect to the body portion thereof and is adapted to sealingly engage the valve seat thereby preventing fluid flow through the aperture in the adjutage.

The hook portion of the plug member includes a thin,.

outwardly extending post and at least one, and preferably two, elongate fingers integral with the post and extending inwardly and transversely from adjacent the outer end thereof to latchingly engage the shoulder within the aperture of the adjutage.

One of the features of this invention is the design of the adjutage particularly in the tensioning portion. This portion serves a dual function. It constantly urges the plug member outwardly toward the valve-closing position. Also because of its shape and relative thinness it substantially prevents any resilient deformation from occurring in other than this portion and it thus permits more accurate nozzle guidance of the discharging of foamed materials. Ihe tensioning portion is also preferably tapered which facilitates the manufacture of the adjutage and the assembly of the'valve.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference is now made to the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a container in which the dispensing valve assembly of this invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2'is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the container and a valve assembly constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevat-ional view of the valve assembly of Fig. 2 in position for discharge;

Fig. 4 is a sectional top plan view of the valve assembly taken substantially along line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View of the plug member;

' Fig. 6 is a sectional top view of the valve assembly taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a modified tensioning portion of the adjutage. I

With further reference to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a container 10 is shown which includes a base 11 and an oppositely disposed open end 12. Disposed within the open end of container 10 is a mounting cup 14. This mounting cup is centrally apertured and the peripheral portions 14a extend upwardly from the innermost port-ion 14b and. are curved-over and downwardly around the peripheral bead 12a circumjacent the open end of the container. The portion of the mounting 'cup intermediate the innermost portion 14b and the peripheral flange portion 14a is spun under the beaded open gara es The valve assembly used in conjunction with the openend container and the apertured mounting cup is preferably of two-piece construction. The first piece is an adjutage or etiiux tube 20, and the second piece is pin or plug member 40.

Adjutage 20 is preferably constructed of a resilient plastic material such as polyethylene. Centrally disposed and extending axially from one end of the adjutage to the other is aperture 22. At one end of adjutage 20 circumjacent aperture 22 is integral valve seat portion 24. Extending radially outward from and surrounding valve seat portion 24 is peripheral flange 26. This flange is integral with the valve seat portion and sealingly abuts innermost portion 14b of the mounting cup. Outwardly (upwardly in the drawing) from the flange and valve seat on the exterior of the adjutage is an annular groove 27. This groove is adapted to receive and sealingly engage the upturned aperture-defining flange 140 of the mounting cup. Thus the adjutage is held erect in the mounting cup.

Spaced from the valve seat portion 24 within aperture 22 is an annular shoulder or engaging formation 28. This shoulder has a transversely extending Wall or surface, the function of which will be hereinafter further described.

In the illustrated embodiment shoulder 28 is formed by the abrupt enlargement of aperture 22 at and above this point. It will be understood that this shoulder may be formed in a number of other ways such as by an aperture-narrowing annular flange.

Intermediate valve seat portion 24 and shoulder 28, and above groove 27, is a resilient tensioning portion 30.

This portion is of substantially reduced and preferably uniform wall thickness. It is also preferred that this portion be longitudinally undulated such that it resembles a bellows, that is, it has a plurality of regularly and longitudinally spaced annular peripheral pleats 30a. This design renders this portion of the adjutage resiliently yieldable and springy. By comparison, all other portions of the adjutage intermediate valve seat portion 24 and shoulder 28 are rigid, that is, very little if any, resilient deformation will occur in these other portions of the adjutage during the movement thereof to the discharge position as shown in Fig. 3.

Tensioning portion 30 does, however, have sufiicient wall thickness and rigidity to maintain the adjutage 30 erect in its normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, unless and until it is moved to the discharge position of Fig. 3 as by radial finger-applied force. The resilient deformation duringthis actuation or discharge movement will be substantially restricted to the tensioning portion 30 of the adjutage.

It will be noted that in Figs. 2 and 3 the tensioning portion 30 is tapered such that it is substantially frustoconical with the basal portion disposed inwardly (downwardly in the drawing). Thus progressing outwardly each succeeding annular pleat 30a is of smaller periphery than the preceding pleats. This design serves a number of very important purposes. One important purpose is that of facilitating the manufacture of the adjutage. In order to form pleats 30a an inner die and an outer die are used. After the molding operation the inner die must of course be removed and it is here that the taper feature of portion 30 is very advantageous. This taper permits the inner die to be removed without danger of damage to the thin wall of portion 30. If acylindrical design is employed for portion 30 such as illustrated in Fig. 7 then much greater care must be taken in removing the inner die after the molding operation.

The rigidity of the adjustage above tensioning portion 30 is desirable because the plug member 40 is manipulated thereby to open the valve as will be seen. Also rigidity in this portion of the adjutage permits the materials flowing therefrom to be predictably directed or aimed. A decorators tip may be provided at the outermost end 32 of the adjutage. This tip, as is well known to those skilled in the art, is grooved and substantially crown-shaped giving a flulfy decorative appearance to the foamed materials flowing therefrom. A transversely extending formation such as annular flange 33 may be provided on the exterior of the adjutage intermediate tensioning portion 30 and end 32. This flange facilitates both the assembly and actuation of the valve as well as the gassing of the container.

It may be seen that the aperture 22 of the adjutage varies in diameter throughout its length. For reasons which will become apparent this aperture is somewhat enlarged intermediate valve seat portion 24 and tensioning portion 30. Between portion 30 and shoulder 28 the aperture is restricted and as previously pointed out shoulder 28 is actually formed by the enlargement of the diameter of the aperture at that point.

Coacting with adjutage 20- is pin or plug member 40. This member is preferably although not necessarily formed of a plastic material having greater rigidity andstiffness than that of the adjutage and includes an obturator or head portion 42, a hook portion 44, and an intermediate body portion 46. As may be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, book and body portions 44 and 46 of the plug member are disposed within aperture 22 of the adjutage.

The obturator 42 is in the form of a flat transversely extending annular button and is adapted to engage and sealingly mate with the valve seat portion 24 of the adjutage. Body portion 46 is elongate, i.e., is of sufiicient length to insure that a substantial portion thereof will extend outwardly from (above) tensioning portion 30 in all positions of actuation. and closure. As may be seen from the drawings body portion 46- is cylindriform and it is preferred that the diameter thereof be increased adjacent obturator 42. The frusto-conical shape and the increased diameter at this point tend to increase the rigidity of the body portion and strengthen the joint. For increased rigidity of the body portion 46 elongate protuberant ribs 47 may be molded integrally with body portion as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6.

The book portion 44 of the plug member which is disposed at the opposite end of body 46 from obturator 42 is adapted to engage the. shoulder 28 within the adjutage. This hook portion preferably includes an elongate outwardly extending post 48 and two resilient elongate shoulder-engaging fingers 50 and 50a. Post 48 is comparatively thin with respect to body portion 46 and has a smoothly rounded crown S2 at its outermost end. Fingers 50 and 501: are integral with post 48 and extend inwardly (downwardly in the drawings) and transversely from crown 52. The ends of fingers 50 and 50a extend transversely in opposite directions to engage the shoulder 28. The distance between valve seat 24 and shoulder 28 is a few thousandths of an inch greater than the distance between obturator 42 and the ends of fingers 50 and 50a. Thus the adjutage must be compressed slightly to permit assembly of the valve.

The diameter of body portion 46 is such that an annular passageway remains in aperture 22 circumjacent this portion and when the valve is open the flow of materials upwardly through this part of the valve is thus somewhat restricted. The hook portion 44 is relatively thin as compared to this body portion. Also it is highly desirable that very little, if any, bending or deformation occur in body portion 46. This rigidity may be obtained through the use of a stiffer material as previously indicated, or alternatively, although not preferably, it may be obtained by means of a strengthening axial insert of metal or other rigid material;

In assembling valve 13, adjutage 20 is forced upwarly into the aperture in mounting cup 14 until annular upturned flange of the mounting cup is seated within annular groove 27 of the adjutage and flange 26 of the adjutage sealingly engages the undersurface of portion 14b of the mounting cup. The hook and body portions '44 and 46 respectively of the plug member are then forced upwardly into aperture 22 of the adjutage. Simultaneously, a downward force is applied to the adjutage above tensioning portion 30 such that this portion is axially compressed and shortened and the distance between valve seat portion 24 and shoulder portion 28 is thereby decreased. This compressive force is applied until the free ends of fingers 50 and 50a of the plug member have passed through the restricted portion of adjutage 20 and are permitted to resiliently and transversely spring open above shoulder 28. As previously stated the adjutage need only be compressed a few thousandths of an inch to permit the fingers 50 and 50a to pass beyond shoulder 28. The force axially compressing adjutage 20 is then removed and tensioning portion 30 is permitted to partially relax until obturator 42 engages valve seat portion 24 and fingers 50 and 50a engage shoulder 28. Further elongation and relaxation of the adjutage is thus prevented. Inasmuch as portion 30 is still under compression this portion is effective to constantly urge the plug member outwardly and thus urge the obturator 42 toward sealing engagement with the valve seat portion 24.

It may be seen that in passing through the restricted portion of aperture 22 during the assembly process the free ends of fingers 50 and 50a are compressed transversely against thin post 48. Upon passing above shoulder 28 they are permitted to spring open to their normal transversely spread position as previously related. The rounded crown 52 guides the plug member smoothly through aperture 22 during the assembly process.

Here another advantage of the taper of portion 30 becomes apparent. As the hook portion 44 of the plug member passes through portion 30, the fingers 50 and 50a are gradually compressed, and there is little opportunity for the fingers to spring outwardly against the next pleat as they pass the preceding pleat.

Thus with the taper the fingers tend to remain compressed, and there is less scraping and bumping or snapping against the thin pleated wall of portion 30. In short, the hook portion 44 passes smoothly through portion 30 without vibrating against and scraping the undu-lated thin wall thereof. It will be noted that when the adjutage is axially compressed, as during the assembly of the valve, the concentric pleats 30a of portion in effect will nest. This eliminates any possi- 4 bility of damage due to over-compression, creasing, scraping or shearing.

The transversely extending annular flange 33 on the exterior of the adjutage provides a convenient means for applying the adjutage compressing force during assembly. This flange permits the adjutage to be quickly and easily compressed either manually or mechanically during the assembly without damage to thedecorator tip 32.

After the valve has thus been "assembled, the fluent materials are placed in container 10, mounting cup 14 with the valve assembly 13 disposed therein is placed in the open end 12 of the container and locked in place as previously described. The container is then ready for gassing.

'In order to gas the container at gassing nozzle is inserted over the adjutage. This nozzle may sealingly engage either the adjutage, the mounting cup, or the container. If the nozzle sealingly engages the adjutage above the tensioning portion 30, it will be necessary that the adjutage be compressed to mechanically relieve the preloading force exerted on the plug member by tensioning portion 30. For this the annular flange 33 may again be conveniently used. The gassing nozzle would then be forced over the-outer end of the adjutage until it sealingly engages flange 33 whereupon further inward (downward) movement of the gassing nozzle will compress the adjutage in the area of tensioning 1 portion '30 to relieve the preload and disengage obturator 42 from the valve seat 24. Pleats 30a in tensioning portion 30 will concentrically nest as previously described. The gas from the nozzle is then free to flow through valve 13 into container 10.

If the gassing nozzle is connected to other than this portion of the adjutage, the preload may be overcome and the valve opened by pressure of the gas through the gassing nozzle. This would eliminate the necessity for mechanically relieving the preload. Gassing of the container through valve 13 is continued until the pressure in the container approaches that of the supply. At this point the valve will close due to the resilient force of tensioning portion 30, or if the preload has been mechanically relieved as by engagement of flange 33, the gassing nozzle may be lifted to permit the adjutage to expand in the area of portion 30 thus closing the valve. Thereafter the gassing nozzle is removed and the container and valve are ready for use.

When it is desired to discharge the fluent materials from the container, the container is first inverted to place the fluent materials in contact with the valve. Radial pressure is exerted on the outwardly extending end of the adjutage above resilient portion 30, as illustrated by the arrow in Fig. 3. This force may be conveniently applied in the area of flange 33.

Because of the shape and relative thinness of the Wall in portion 30 substantially all resilient deformation is confined to this portion.' Thereafter, during the actuation movement the section of the adjutage above portion 30 is caused to tilt with respect to the section below portion 30. Since the aperture in the adjutage between portion 30 and shoulder 28 is narrow, the tilting of the upper section causes the body portion 46 of the plug member to engage the aperture-defining wall and be tilted as seen in Fig. 3. Inasmuch as the plug member 40 is of a relatively stiff and rigid plastic material as compared to the adjutage 20, the tilting of the plug member at this point results in the tilting of all portions of the plug member including obturator 42. Thus obturator 42 is tilted out of sealing engagement with valve seat portion 24 to which no resilient deformation or tilting is transmitted. The materials then are free to move outwardly through the valve at a metered rate.

The fluent materials flow outwardly through aperture 22 circumjacent body portion 46 of the plug member. Above shoulder 28 the diameter of the aperture 22 is increased. As the fluent materials flow into this section of increased diameter, foaming occurs due to expansion and release of the dissolved and entrapped gasses and the mixing of the fluent materials therewith as is well understood to those skilled in the art. The thus-foamed material flows outwardly past the decorating tip 32 which gives a flufiy decorative appearance to the product.

It may be seen that a valve has been provided which has a minimum number of parts and which is extremely reliable for sealing a pressurized container and for dispensing materials from the container in a foamed condition. The valve parts may be manufactured easily and inexpensively and the valve may be quickly and easily assembled. The actuation of the valve is very convenient and the rigidity of certain parts of the adjutage permits the materials to be easily and predictably directed.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that many modifications and changes in various details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing valve for use with a container for holding fluent materials, said valve including an elongate, axially apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage having a valve seat, shoulder means disposed within the aperture of said adjutage and a resilient tensioning portion of reduced cross sectional area intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder means, said plug member having an obturator, hook means, and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and said hook means, said body portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending radially protruding, peripherally disposed ribs, said hook means and body portion being disposed Within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook means extending transversely within the aperture of said adjutage to latchingly engage said shoulder means, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to efiect sea-ling engagement of the obturator with the valve seat.

2. A dispensing valve for use with a container having an aperture, said valve including an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage being sealingly disposed within the aperture of the container and having a valve seat, a shoulder means disposed within the aperture of said adjutage and a tapered resiliently yieldable longitudinally undulated tensioning portion of substantially reduced uniform wall thickness intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder means, said plug member having an obturator, hook means, and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and said hook means, said hook means and body portion being disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook means extending transversely within the aperture of said adjutage to latchingly engage said shoulder, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to effect sealing engagement of the obturator with said valve seat.

3. A dispensing valve for use with a container having an open end, and an apertured mounting cup peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, said valve including an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage being sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat, a shoulder disposed Within the aperture of said adjutage and a tapered resiliently yieldable tensioning portion of reduced uniform Wall thickness having a plurality of longitudinally spaced peripheral pleats and disposed intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder, said adjutage being rigid intermediate said valve seat and said tensioning portion, said plug member having an obturator, a hook portion, and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and said hook portion, said hook and body portions being disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook portion extending transversely Within the aperture of said adjutage to latchingly engage said shoulder, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to effect sealing engagement of said obturator with said valve seat.

4. A dispensing valve for use with a container having an open end, and an apertured mounting cup peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, said valve including an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage being sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat, a shoulder disposed Within the aperture of said adjutage a resiliently yieldable tensioning portion of reduced uniform wall thickness having a plurality of longitudinally and regularly spaced annular peripheral pleats and disposed intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder, and a transversely projecting flange intermediate said tensioning portionand the outer end of said adjutage, said adjutage being rigid intermediate valve seat portion and said tensioning portion whereby substantially all resilient deformation will be restricted to said tensioning portion, said plug member having an obturator, a hook portion, and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and hook portion, said hook and body portions being disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat, thereby preventing fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook portion extending transversely within the aperture of said adjutage to latchingly engage said shoulder, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to efiect sealing engagement of said obturator with said valve seat portion.

5. A dispensing valve for use with a container having an open end, and an apertured mounting cup peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, said valve in cluding an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage being sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat, a shoulder disposed within the aperture of said adjutage and a resiliently yieldable tensioning portion of substantially reduced uniform wall thickness having a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular peripheral pleats and disposed intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder, the portions of said adjutage intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder other than said tensioning portion being rigid, said plug member having an obturator, a hook portion, and a rigid elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and said hook portion, said hook and body portions being disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook portion extending transversely within the aperture of said adjutage to latchingly engage said shoulder, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being underaxial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to eflect sealing engagement of said obturator with said valve seat. a

6. A dispensing valve for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, and an apertured mounting cup peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, said Valve including an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage being sealingly disposed Within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat, a shoulder disposed within the aperture of said adjutage and a tapered resiliently yieldable longitudinally undulated tensioning portion of substantially reduced uniform wall thickness intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder, said plug member having an obturator, a hook portion, and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and said hook portion, said hook and body portions being disposed Within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook portion including a thin outwardly extending post and at least one integral elongate inwardly and tranversely extending finger, said finger being in latching engagement with said shoulder, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to effect sealing engagement of said obturator with said valve seat.

7. A dispensing valve for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, and an apertured mounting cup peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, said valve including an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage being sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat, a shoulder disposed within the aperture of said adjutage and a resiliently yieldable substantially frustoconical tensioning portion of substantially reduced uniform wall thickness having a plurality of longitudinally spaced peripheral pleats and disposed intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder with the basal portion thereof disposed inwardly, said plug member having an obturator, a hook portion, and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and said hook portion, said hook and body portions being disposed Within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook portion including a thin outwardly extending post and at least one elongate finger integral with said post and extending inwardly and transversely to latchingly engage the said shoulder, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to eifect sealing engagement of said obturator with said valve seat.

8. A dispensing valve for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, and an apertured mounting cup peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, said valve including an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage being sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat, a shoulder disposed within the aperture of said adjutage and a resiliently yieldable tensioning portion of substantially reduced uniform wall thickness having a plurality of longitudinally and regularly spaced peripheral pleats and disposed intermediate said valve seat and said shoulder, said plug member having an obturator, a hook portion, and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator and said hook portion, said body portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending, radially protruding, peripherally disposed ribs, said hook and body portions being disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator portion being 10 transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid fiow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook portion including a thin outwardly extending post and two oppositely disposed transversely resilient elongate fingers integral with said post and extending inwardly and transversely from adjacent the outer end thereof to latchingly engage said shoulder, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to effect sealing engagement of said obturator with said valve seat.

9. A dispensing valve for use with a container having an open end and an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, said valve including an elongate apertured adjutage and a cooperating plug member, said adjutage including a rigid valve seat portion sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup, a rigid fluent material directing portion, and a resiliently yieldable, longitudinally undwlated tensioning portion integral with and disposed intermediate said valve seat portion and said directing portion, whereby substantially all resilient deformation in said adjutage will be restricted to said tensioning portion, said directing portion having shoulder means disposed within the aperture thereof, said plug member having an obturator portion, a hook portion and an elongate body portion intermediate said obturator portion and said hook portion, said hook portion and said body portion being disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, said obturator portion being transversely disposed with respect to said body portion and adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the aperture in said adjutage, said hook portion extending transversely within the aperture of said adjutage to latchingly engage said shoulder means, the tensioning portion of said adjutage being under axial compression and constantly urging said plug member in a direction to efiect sealing engagement of the obturator with the valve seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,434 Geiss et a1 Nov. 8, 1949 2,612,293 Michel Sept. 30, 1952 2,767,888 Soifer Oct. 23, 1956 2,839,225 Soifer et al June 17, 1958 2,869,764 Collins Jan. 20, 1959 2,877,936 Michel Mar. 17, 1959 2,892,575 Turk June 30, 1959 

